LOGICAL CONNECTIVES

and
or
if…..then
if and only if
not
s : John studies.
p : John passes. 
h : John is happy This symbol replaces
the word “AND”

John passes AND John is happy

p  h
s : John studies. ~
p : John passes.
h : John is happy This symbol negates the
statement it precedes

John does NOT study:

~ s
s : John studies.
p : John passes. 
h : John is happy This symbol replaces
the word “OR”

John studies OR John does NOT pass

s  ~p
s : John studies.
p : John passes. 
h : John is happy This symbol replaces
the connective “if … then”

IF John studies THEN John passes.

s  p
s : John studies.
p : John passes. 
h : John is happy This symbol replaces
the words “if and only if”

John is happy IF AND ONLY IF John studies.

h  s
When using the connective


The direction of the arrow

is important.

cause  effect
 c o
If Herman lives in Cleveland then
Herman lives in Ohio.

c
Herman lives in Ohio if Herman lives in Cleveland.
o

Herman lives in Cleveland only if Herman lives
in Ohio.
 
John is happy ONLY IF he studies.


John is happy IF he studies.



John is happy IF AND ONLY IF he studies.
and :  m: Herman takes math
h: Herman is happy
or :  a: Herman gets an A
if ...then : b: Herman bribes the teacher
ifandonlyif :
not :~

Herman takes math and he is not happy. m  ~h

If Herman gets an A then he is happy. a  h

Herman takes math if and only if he

m b

bribes the teacher.
 (3+5)x2 is different from 3+(5x2
)

similarly

l  g  a  is different from l  g   a
When a statement has two or more connectives,
one of the connectives is said to be dominant. This
determines the grouping (placement of parentheses)
A SIMPLE STATEMENT has one verb.
The following four statements are simple:

Today is Friday It is hot

We will swim We will picnic

f h s p
Now we have two COMPOUND STATEMENTS

Today is Friday and It is hot

We will swim or We will picnic

f  h s  p
 Finally , we can connect these two compound
statements:

If Today is Friday and It is hot

then We will swim or We will picnic


Is the dominant
connective. It is
last one placed.
f  h  s  p
and :  l: The teacher likes Herman
g: Herman does good work
or :  a: Herman gets an A
if ...then :
ifandonlyif :
not :~

The teacher likes Herman and if Herman does

good work then Herman gets an A.

l  g  a

If the teacher likes Herman and Herman does

good work then Herman gets an A.
l  g  a
 DOMINANT
statement statement
CONNECTIVE
 (3+5)x2 is different from 3+(5x2
)
Without parentheses
we have a convention
to interpret:

3 + 5 x 2

to mean (3) + ( 5 x 2 )
When an arithmetic sentence contains + and  signs
and NO PARENTHESES to indicate otherwise
we assume that + is dominant
 There is a similar convention in logic:
If a statement contains two or more connectives
and there are NO PARENTHESES to show you how
to group symbols, then we will agree that the
DOMINANT CONNECTIVE is whatever is highest
on this chart:



~
 If it rains then we go to a movie and if it
doesn’t rain then we swim.

 (r m)  (~r s )

In this statement, the parentheses are
~ necessary because “and” is dominant
 If Herman does not study then he will
fail math and his life will be ruined.

 ~s  f  r

~ Because is the dominant

connective, the parentheses
are correctly placed…BUT …
they are unnecessary
 If Herman does not study then he will
fail math and his life will be ruined.

 ~s  f  r

~ Because this means

~s  f  r
 Interpret the following statement:


 ~p  q  r  ~s  r

~
This is highest
on the chart.
This is dominant
 Interpret the following statement:


 ~p  q  r  ~s  r

~ Now we have two simpler statements

to deal with.

~p  q  r

In the pink statement ,  is highest on the

chart
 Interpret the following statement:


 ~p  q  r  ~s  r

~ Now we have two simpler statements

to deal with.
~s  r

In the blue statement ,  is highest on the

chart
 Interpret the following statement:


 ~p  q  r  ~s  r